Vikings hope Peterson ready for next year

Aaron Wilson

12/25/2011

The Minnesota Vikings are hopeful that star running back Adrian Peterson will be able to return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in time for the first game of next season.
The $100 million runner shredded two ligaments in his left knee.

"We expect most people to recover from this injury in eight to nine months and instead of comparing Adrian to any other player at any level that's had an anterior cruciate ligament, and they happen every day, I would really like Adrian to stand on his own merit because Adrian, I feel, is very unique," Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman said in remarks distributed by the team. "Adrian has a great work ethic. Adrian has the DNA to heal quickly, which he has shown in the past. He certainly will have the desire and the mental toughness to be able to get through the rehab process, which will take months and months, as you know. So, I think if anyone can get better quickly and safely in that time period, it would be Adrian Peterson."

Sugarman confirmed tears to the ACL and medial collateral ligament and damage to the medial and lateral meniscus, but no damage to the posterior cruciate ligament and lateral-collateral ligament.

"Most importantly all the chondral surface in his knee is also non-injured and that is a very positive thing for this injury," Sugarman said. "It's not uncommon to see a medial-collateral ligament along with an ACL and certainly you usually see meniscal injuries along with an ACL as well. So that is the specific injury that Adrian has. So moving forward, what happens next, right now Adrian is here currently doing rehab, basically our goal now with Adrian is restore his range of motion, decrease the swelling and keep his quadriceps strong in order to prepare him for surgery, which is going to probably be in the next seven to 10 days."

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier will install Toby Gerhart as the starter, but he expects Peterson to make a full recovery.

"He sets his goals extremely high and he's one of those guys who, when he puts his mind to it, there's no reason to ever doubt that he can achieve what he sets his mind to," Frazier said.. "We're looking forward to his attacking this rehab like he's attacked every offseason, to come back and play and be even better than he was before. I know with Eric and our medical staff, they're going to do everything they can to get him back on the field and ready to go when we line up in that first football game next season."

The Vikings promoted running back Caleb King from the practice squad, cutting tight end Allen Reisner and promoting tight end Mickey Shuler from the practice squad.

For more coverage of the NFL, go to profootball.scout.com.
Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider